Jazz Vocals can be dreamy. Jazz vocals can be sassy.
Jazz vocals can be trite. Jazz vocals can be just plain
delightful. The last one is where Libby York comes in.
The acclaimed vocalist offers her personal touch on
standards with Memoir (Libby York Music, 2014).

Accompanists are John Dimartino, piano; Martin Wind,
bass; Greg Sergo, drums; and Warren Vache, cornet.
Guitarist Russell Malone sits in on three tracks. And
Warren Vache also adds vocals to two songs.

The delight is evident from the first track, “Give Me
the Simple Life.” No gimmicks here. York’s joy of
singing comes through in her rendition of this standard.
She’s aided by happy-go-lucky solos by Vache and
Dimartino. Toward the end of the interlude, Vache and
Sergo engage in a playful call-and-response sequence.

York and Vache perform a vocal duet on “Put It There,
Pal,” an anthem for friendship. Vache’s part is more
rhythmic speech than singing – an effective contrast to
York. Ad-libbed dialogue is sprinkled here and there. In
an odd way, it reminds one of a Bob Hope/Bing Crosby
skit. Jazz vocals with a sense of humor.

No mention of Hope would be complete without noting that
York performs a soft, tranquil rendition of “Thanks for
the Memory,” Hope’s signature song at the end of his
television specials. Vache and Malone contribute solos.

York left Chicago in the early 1970s to major in
political science at American University in Washington,
D.C. She operated a restaurant in Rehoboth Beach,
Delaware, then spent the 1980s and early ’90s in New
York, where she was coached by Abbey Lincoln and
collaborated with pianist Renee Rosnes. York’s recording
debut was 2004’s Blue Gardenia.